Rep. Dave Reichert got an A despite sneaking a proposal through the House in 2011 that would have opened the door to a federal gun registry. The amendment required the Government Accounting Office to “conduct a study of the ability of state and local law enforcement authorities to verify the validity of [gun] licenses or permits.”

Sen. Mitch McConnell got an A + despite having voted for gun storage requirements, trigger locks and other gun control measures.

These ratings show how the NRA uses the ratings system to reward its allies and punish anyone who stands up to them.

The NRA turned on Amash, Woodall and several other conservative Republicans in 2011 when they refused to support the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. Amash and Woodall opposed the bill on pro-gun, Constitutional grounds because they feared it would “hurt rights by conceding broad new authority to the federal government to override state sovereignty.”

Specifically, they criticized the bill’s reliance on the Constitution’s Commerce Clause, which gives the federal government power to regulate interstate commerce and subvert states’ rights. Amash and Woodall didn’t want to give the government more power over guns than it already has.

Now the NRA is punishing Woodall and Amash because they stood up for their principles, while rewarding mainstream politicians like Reichert who not only compromise on gun rights but also actively work against them.

Friday, October 17, 2014

An Indiana man was fired from his job simply because he owned a gun, despite the fact that he never brought the gun to work. Now he is suing the company that employed him because he claims the firing was illegal.

Nino Ferlaino had worked as a landscaper at Lakes of The Four Seasons gated community for 21 years when his supervisor found out that he was a gun owner. The supervisor told the Property Owners Association, who requested that he be fired.

Ferlaino’s attorney says that the association violated Indiana’s “take your gun to work” law because it required him to disclose information about gun ownership —and then fired him when they didn’t like the answer.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Vermont State Senator Jean White, who has three consecutive A-ratings from the National Rifle Association, recently took money from a powerful anti-gun group in Vermont. Other top rated politicians in Vermont have also received smaller contributions from the group, Vermont Gun Sense.

“I did take their contribution because I do basically support their position,” White said. “What I told them is that I do support some level of background checks.”

White accepted $500 from the “gun sense” group. Three NRA A-rated senators received $300 donations, and two received $100. A third, Jim Moran (D – Wardsboro) said he refused the money.

Vermont Gun Sense is a well-funded anti-gun organization that supports universal background checks and other restrictions on guns sold in Vermont. It has reportedly hired the most powerful lobbyists in Vermont and was the third largest spender on lobbyists for the last quarter.

White said that the NRA hasn’t asked her about her support for gun control or her donation from Vermont Gun Sense.

“I didn’t ask them for their endorsement, but they gave it to me,” she said. “I don’t know if they’ll give it to me in the general election again because of my affiliation with Gun Sense.”

White also said that she has never filled out the NRA’s questionnaire, but received their endorsement for her work on hunters’ rights.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Last week, police arrested Russell Percenti of Lower Township, New Jersey after he shot down a drone that he says was flying above his home. Percenti was charged with criminal mischief and unlawful use of a firearm. He was released on a $250 bond.

The owner of the drone said that he was using it to photograph a nearby construction project, but Percenti said that the unmanned aircraft had flown onto his property.

If Percenti is telling the truth, then police arrested the wrong man. People shouldn’t be able to fly hi-tech photography equipment onto someone else’s land, even if it is only by accident. And when a drone does come onto their land, homeowners should be well within their rights to take it out.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be how the law works. According to one article, the castle doctrine doesn’t apply to drones unless they pose a physical threat. If a drone flies onto your land, you are supposed to just leave it be.

By this logic, someone hiding in your bushes and taking photographs of your bathroom window is not a “threat” either. Neither would be a burglar using binoculars scope out your property.

More towns should take a cue from Deer Trail, Colorado and start issuing drone hunting licenses.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

While several gigantic chain stores have recently decided to ban guns, small businesses around the country are taking the opposite approach – and it is paying off.

Business is booming at places like Shiloh Brew & Chew in Maryville, Tennessee, which posted a “guns are welcome” sign earlier this year. At The Cajun Experience in Leesburg, Virginia, a promotion meant to attract armed customers resulted in an “overwhelming” response, owner Bryan Crosswhite says.

Some pro-gun businesses are taking things a step further — not only welcoming armed citizens but also offering them discounts. This too has resulted in increased sales. When Louisiana restaurant “Chicken Express” offered a free combo meal to armed patrons, owner Randal Neel says it resulted in the busiest Saturday the store has ever had.

Another Louisiana restaurant owner, Kevin Cox of Bergeron’s Cajun & Creole, recently decided to give armed customers a ten percent discount. Each day there are between 12 and 20 who take advantage of the discount, he says.

Cox told a local TV station that he is simply trying to make his restaurant safer.

“Don’t [places that ban guns] realize that’s where [thieves] are going to go?” he said. “I want to take the opposite approach – how do I make my place safer?”

While pro-gun businesses have seen a spike in sales, anti-gun establishments have faced an intense backlash. After a gun ban at a Georgia restaurant caused an uproar among customers, the owners were forced to issue a retraction on their Facebook page.

“The sign that was put up regarding firearms has been removed,” the statement read. “It was our intention to get the attention of irresponsible gun owners. But then we realized that irresponsible gun owners do not pay attention to signs.”